Officials: Type O blood donations urgently needed during blood emergency
The Red Cross and the New York Blood Center say in recent weeks, supplies have been so low, donor blood organizations have had a hard time meeting hospital demand for this critical blood type.
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Tri-state officials are warning people that a blood emergency remains in effect and urge people to donate.
Officials say all blood types are needed to help people.
"There are traumas, burn patients, patients with cancer, women in labor and delivery heart surgeries…As the summer rolls on…please remember the people that are in the hospitals today," says Dr. Baia Lasky, divisional chief medical director of the American Red Cross.
However, both the Red Cross and the New York Blood Center say there is an urgent need for Type O positive and negative. They say in recent weeks, supplies have been so low, donor blood organizations have had a hard time meeting hospital demand for this critical blood type.
Red Cross officials say the blood supply tends to dip to dangerously low levels every summer because people are on vacation and are not following their normal routines. The record heat this summer has also made things worse.
The organization says it saw its blood inventory drop more than 25% in July, while hospital needs remained the same.
The Red Cross and the New York Blood Center hold blood drives several times a week.
